And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus gently rebukes their lack of understanding, not as simplemindedness, but as a dullness in their hearts that prevented them from grasping the full message of the prophets concerning Him, especially His suffering. The phrase "slow of heart" points to their emotions and willingness to believe, not just their intellect, highlighting that true faith involves the whole person.
And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus encounters two disciples on the road to Emmaus, who are deeply saddened and confused about his crucifixion and the lack of any redemption for Israel. They recount the events, expressing their dashed hopes, unaware that the very resurrected Christ is walking and listening to them. Jesus then gently rebukes their lack of faith, challenging them to see how the Old Testament prophets foretold these very things.
Jesus calls the disciples 'foolish,' but it’s not a casual insult. It cuts deeper than just a lack of intelligence.
The Greek word Jesus uses here isn't about being unintelligent, but rather 'without perception' or 'dull.' The disciples were not stupid; they had the Scriptures! But their grief and disappointment had clouded their ability to see how Jesus perfectly fulfilled what the prophets foretold, especially regarding suffering and death.
Think of it like this: they had the map (the prophets), but their emotional fog was so thick they couldn't orient themselves to the destination (Christ's fulfillment).
The disciples were stuck on a triumphant Messiah. Jesus gently, but firmly, points them to a different prophetic picture.
The disciples' grief stemmed from their expectation of a Messiah who would immediately bring political redemption. They were devastated that Jesus, whom they thought was 'the one to redeem Israel,' had suffered and died.
Jesus’ rebuke highlights a critical misunderstanding: they had ignored or missed the prophetic declarations about the Messiah’s suffering.
Ask a follow-up
Understand the original words
anoētos · Greek Adjective
A state of being intellectually dull, lacking spiritual perception, or failing to grasp divine truth; it implies a failure to connect the heart and mind to God's revealed Word.
kardia · Greek Noun
Refers to the core of human personality, encompassing the will, intellect, and emotions. Being 'slow of heart' suggests a spiritual sluggishness or a resistance to accepting divine revelation despite evidence.
prophētēs · Greek Noun
Those who act as God’s mouthpieces, communicating His divine will, warnings, and promises to His people; they pointed toward the future coming of the Messiah and the fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan.
Jesus gently rebukes the disciples for their lack of understanding, not because they were unintelligent, but because their hearts were slow to grasp how the Old Testament prophecies pointed to a suffering Messiah.
c. 30-33 AD— this verse
Jesus' Crucifixion and Resurrection
Jesus of Nazareth is crucified in Jerusalem, and according to his followers, is raised from the dead on the third day.
c. 30-33 AD
Disciples Scatter from Jerusalem
Following Jesus' execution, many of his followers fled Jerusalem, disheartened and confused.
c. 30-33 AD
Emmaus Road Journey
Two disciples, deeply saddened, walk from Jerusalem to Emmaus, discussing the recent events.
c. 30-33 AD
Jesus Appears to the Two
A stranger (Jesus, unrecognized) joins the two disciples on their journey and questions their sadness.
c. 30-33 AD
Jesus Opens the Scriptures
Jesus rebukes their lack of faith and begins to explain to them, from the Old Testament Scriptures, why the Messiah had to suffer.
c. 30-33 AD
Recognition at Emmaus
The disciples recognize Jesus in the breaking of bread at their meal, at which point he vanishes from their sight.
c. 30-33 AD
Return to Jerusalem
The two disciples immediately return to Jerusalem to share their experience with the other apostles.
This passage promises a prophet like Moses, and Jesus uses this to show the disciples that all the prophets spoke of him, including the coming of this specific prophet.
Isaiah 53:3-12This suffering servant passage is a prime example of prophecy the disciples should have understood, detailing the Messiah's suffering and death before glory.
Psalm 22:1-31This psalm directly describes the suffering and mockery of the Messiah, which Jesus would have used to show the disciples that suffering was a foregone conclusion for him.
1 Peter 1:10-11Peter echoes Jesus' point, explaining that the prophets searched and inquired about the salvation that would come through Christ, indicating they foretold his suffering and subsequent glory.
John 5:46Jesus told the Pharisees that if they believed Moses, they would believe him, because Moses wrote of him. This shows the foundational role of the Old Testament in understanding Jesus.
vincentLuke 24:25: "Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:"
Fools and slow of heart (ἀνόητοι καὶ βραδεῖς τῇ καρδίᾳ)This is an unfortunate translation, in the light of the ordinary, popular use of the word fool. Jesus would never have called those sorrowful disciples fools in that sense. The word is compounded of ἀ, not, and νοέω, which implies, besides seeing, perception of the mind as consequent upon sight. It is therefore equivalent…
clarkeLuke 24:25: "Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:"
O fools and slow of heart to believe - Inconsiderate men, justly termed such, because they had not properly attended to the description given of the Messiah by the prophets, nor to his teaching and miracles, as proofs that He alone was the person they described. Slow of heart - Backward, not easy to be persuaded of the truth, always giving way to doubtfulness and distrust. This very im…
Jesus gently rebukes their lack of understanding, not as simplemindedness, but as a dullness in their hearts that prevented them from grasping the full message of the prophets concerning Him, especially His suffering. The phrase "slow of heart" points to their emotions and willingness to believe, not just their intellect, highlighting that true faith involves the whole person.
Jesus encounters two disciples on the road to Emmaus, who are deeply saddened and confused about his crucifixion and the lack of any redemption for Israel. They recount the events, expressing their dashed hopes, unaware that the very resurrected Christ is walking and listening to them. Jesus then gently rebukes their lack of faith, challenging them to see how the Old Testament prophets foretold these very things.
Jesus encounters two disciples on the road to Emmaus, who are deeply saddened and confused about his crucifixion and the lack of any redemption for Israel. They recount the events, expressing their dashed hopes, unaware that the very resurrected Christ is walking and listening to them. Jesus then gently rebukes their lack of faith, challenging them to see how the Old Testament prophets foretold these very things.
"And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!" — Jesus gently rebukes their lack of understanding, not as simplemindedness, but as a dullness in their hearts that prevented them from grasping the full message of the prophets concerning Him, especia…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026